Multi-Purpose Cellulosic Ionogels

摘要

The immobilization of ionic liquid into a support matrix for practical applications is frequently inefficient (i.e., low loading capacity) or otherwise compromises the attractive properties of the sequestered ionic liquid phase. One promising strategy for ionic liquid immobilization entails the formation of an ionogel, although reported ionogels sometimes suffer from solvent/matrix incompatibility, limited liquid loading capacity, and the development of optical opacity or physical embrittlement. In this chapter, we introduce a straightforward procedure for preparing bacterial cellulose ionogels (BCIGs) using an ethanol co-solvent exchange process to achieve ionic liquid loadings of up to 99 weight percent. The resulting ionogels are transparent, stable, flexible, size- and shape-tunable, and can host a range of chemistries toward multi-purpose applications.